Nancy “Nan” Kellogg, age
88, of Winneconne, passed away Tuesday, November 11, 2025, surrounded by her
loving family at her home after a courageous battle with cancer.
She was born in Milwaukee
on September 24, 1937, to Alonzo “Lon” and Beatrice Pawling. As a baby, her
parents decided to move the family to Winneconne and the property and home they
built is where Nan was proud to live throughout her whole life. She attended kindergarten
at Ball Prairie School in the Town of Winneconne, a one-room schoolhouse that
is still standing. She graduated from Winneconne High School in 1955.
On April 14, 1958, Nancy
was united in marriage to Leon Kellogg Sr. Nancy worked many jobs, including
cleaning houses, working at the bakery and working seasonally at Miles Kimball.
She also worked at Ingersoll factory and was a waitress, with her longest
waitress job being at the Collins Truck Stop for 20 years. She retired from
Woodman’s in 2002.
After her retirement, Nancy
really dug her heels into her hobbies. She was the best project manager; always
having a project going at all times, and a half a dozen waiting in the wings.
She was always busy working on something. On any given day, she was awake by 4:00
a.m. with her dogs always by her side. By 10:00 a.m., she already had a whole
day’s work accomplished, but she didn’t stop there; she kept going all day and
wouldn’t think of slowing down until around 7:00 p.m.
As a little girl, she
loved to fish with her dad. Nan was an avid set-line fisherman, and it was a
family pastime. Smoked catfish was the event of the week and she took over
smoking the catfish after her dad passed away. One of her many hobbies was her
huge beer can collection. She would attend beer can collection shows and would
swap with other collectors. Gathering hickory nuts in the fall and picking them
out throughout the winter was another favorite pastime. Nancy sought out
fishing collectibles (carved duck decoys) and fishing lures. Another important
hobby was feeding the birds and keeping up with the migration of the hummingbirds;
and she also fed the squirrels hickory nuts. She always manicured her home, her
yard, and her gardens with fresh ideas for each changing season. She loved to
page through her seed catalogs to get her order in for the next planting. Nan
poured her blood, sweat and tears into maintaining fruitful gardens, with hopes
to surpass the yields from the years prior. She had the greenest thumb, and
garlic was among her favorite things to grow. She participated in the garden
walk in 2006, as a result of her good friend Doris Esch encouraging Nancy to
take part.
Nancy took pride in
decorating her yard each season and she did it to give the neighbors something
festive to take in.
She was a Jill of all
trades spending hours building a stone retaining wall along the shoreline of
their property with stones picked from the quarry. She loved to bake and share
her baked goods with family and friends. She painted all areas inside and out
of the house. Nancy was never alone as she embarked on these hobbies, projects
and adventures. She always gave her husband and soulmate, Leon, credit for
giving her the help and opportunity to achieve her dreams and aspirations. She
was very proud of the family she and Leon raised and cherished throughout the
many years of their 67-year marriage, spent in their Lake Winneconne home.
Nancy was best known for
her determined spirit, endless energy, love of family and friends, dogs and
gardening.
One of her greatest loves
were her dogs past, Cubby, Charlie, Brandy, Dutchess, Tasha, Dolly, Squeaky,
Hunter, Heidi, Rusty; and present, Beau and Bailey; and a rescued cat, Blackie,
who has since passed.
Nancy also formed many
strong friendships and close bonds with all of her neighbors over the years.
She is survived by her
husband, Leon Sr. of Winneconne; her daughters, Cynthia (Thomas) DeFord of
Oshkosh; Theresa Kim of Rocklin, CA; and a son Kevin Kellogg of Winneconne.
Nancy is also survived by grandchildren, Shawni (Andrew) Miller of Sacramento,
CA; Casey Kellogg of Winneconne; Rebecca (Christopher) Erdman of Greendale, WI;
Christopher DeFord of Oshkosh; great-grandchildren, Leon Kellogg III “Little
Leon” of Winneconne; Nolan, Christian and Lincoln Erdman of Greendale, WI. She
is further survived by brother-in-law, Donald Kellogg and spouse of Fond du lac;
and sisters-in-law, Janice Rilling, Arlene Reinert and their spouses, of Omro;
and her dogs Bailey and Beau, who were her shadow and never left her side. She is
also survived by her close friends, Patty Fredrick, Jill Mickelson and Jan
Hillman, all of Winneconne; and many other friends.
Nancy was preceded in
death by her parents; and a son, Leon Jr. “Duke” Kellogg.
Nancy, “Nan”, “Nanny” -
Wife, Mom of 4, Grandma of 4, Great-Grandma of 4, friend of many. You are the
glue, seed and dirt that held us together and nobody can take your place. You
are forever in our hearts! God bless you.
The family wishes to
extend special thanks to Jill Mickelson and Heartland Hospice for the care
given to Nancy.
In accordance with her
wishes, cremation has taken place and no funeral service will be held. The
family is planning a celebration of life to take place at a later date.
Mueller Funeral
Home-Winneconne is assisting the family. If you wish, please submit online
condolences to muellerfh.net.
In lieu of flowers,
donations in Nancy’s honor are appreciated to the Oshkosh Area Humane Society.
Where Caring Is A Family Tradition